The TFWs are coming, Hurrah! Hurrah!

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There were 55,000 unemployed officially in April and if our goal as a province is to have the same employment rate (share of the adult population employed) as the country overall that would add another 30,000 to the potential worker total. So, in theory there should be around 85,000 more New Brunswickers working – and they couldn’t even get a few hundred to fill jobs in fish plants, etc.

But the reality is for the most part Canadians don’t want to work these jobs anywhere in Canada. Over half of the agricultural workforce in Ontario now is made up of temporary foreign workers. On top of that there is a plethora of government assistance programs: CERB, EI, PSE student monthly income support, etc.

So it is completely understandable that the Premier decided to let in temporary foreign workers (TFWs). It’s the right decision. Sometimes you just have to breathe a big sigh and sign the paper in front of you.